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Epic Games launches app store, challenging Apple’s supremacy

Published

4 months ago

August 17, 2024

Epic Games launches app store, challenging Apple's supremacy

Sweeny, Epic Video games, CEO acknowledged: “The battle is way from over, however that is tangible progress for builders and customers who can start to learn from competitors and selection”. Credit score:
rafapress through ShutterStock.

US online game and software program developer Epic Video games has in the present day (16 August) launched a brand new cell app retailer that may rival Apple’s hegemonic App Retailer.

The Epic Video games Retailer is on the market for obtain on iPhone within the EU and on Android gadgets worldwide. Its launch follows a prolonged authorized spat between Epic and Apple that in the end noticed the latter pressured to permit using app shops aside from its personal on its gadgets.

Epic will initially distribute its personal video games through its retailer however says it’s “working to allow all builders to launch their video games and apps by the Epic Video games Retailer sooner or later.”

The return of Fortnite

The launch additionally signifies that iOS customers can now entry the vastly common online game Fortnite for the primary time in 4 years.

Apple eliminated Fortnite from its App Retailer in 2020 following a dispute with Epic, which objected to having to pay such a big lower of its revenues raised by the shop to Apple and had tried to avoid App Retailer guidelines by providing paid-for in-game content material outdoors of Apple’s ecosystem.

The developer had an identical grievance with Google in relation to its Play Retailer, and it went on to sue each, in the end forcing the choice for Apple to have to permit using different app shops.

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Among the many different video games to be initially provided on the Epic Video games Retailer will likely be Fall Guys and Rocket League Sideswipe.

Difficult Apple’s market dominance

Epic has been capable of start to problem Apple’s market dominance because of the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which means that, for the primary time, EU customers can have a substitute for Apple’s App Retailer.

“We’re grateful to the European Fee for making it potential to launch the Epic Video games Retailer and supply our video games to iOS customers within the European Union,” stated Tim Sweeney CEO and founding father of Epic.

GlobalData principal analyst Laura Petrone commented to Verdict: “Plainly the tide is popping towards Apple and Google’s monopoly in app shops in Europe and the US.”

“Not solely is Epic Video games returning to iOS in Europe and Android worldwide, however it is usually accessible on various app shops because of enforcement of the Digital Markets Act.”

Zeroing in on the regulatory panorama, Petrone added: “Epic Video games additionally managed to persuade judges within the US that Google engaged in anticompetitive practices. Google’s defeat in final 12 months’s lawsuit towards Epic Video games dealt a critical blow to Google and its enterprise mannequin in apps. Apple has been charged for a similar practices by the European Fee below the Digital Markets Act and is in negotiation with Brussels to appropriate these practices.”

Whereas there’s progress inside the EU, the regulatory panorama in the remainder of the world nonetheless permits Apple to dam iOS customers from accessing Fortnite and Epic Video games Retailer.

Regardless of that, Petrone asserted that: “The legitimacy of app retailer guidelines on Android and iOS has been considerably weakened.”